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Abstract:

A method and apparatus for eliminating wait for boot-up of an apparatus
while simultaneously preventing increased power usage. The method
includes predicting a boot-up schedule according to a determined usage
schedule, and scheduling boot-up time according to the predicted boot-up
schedule, wherein said boot-up schedule eliminates wait for boot-up while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage.

Claims:

1. A method for eliminating wait for boot-up of an apparatus while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage, the method
comprising:predicting a boot-up schedule according to a determined usage
schedule; andscheduling boot-up time according to the predicted boot-up
schedule, wherein said boot-up schedule eliminates wait for boot-up while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising logging usage of the
apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined schedule accounts for at
least one of date, day and time.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising booting-up the apparatus.

5. An apparatus for eliminating wait for boot-up of an apparatus while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage, comprising:means for
predicting a boot-up schedule according to a determined usage schedule;
andmeans for scheduling boot-up time according to the predicted boot-up
schedule, wherein said boot-up schedule eliminates wait for boot-up while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for logging usage of
the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the determined schedule accounts for
at least one of date, day and time.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for booting-up the
apparatus.

9. A computer readable medium comprising software that, when executed by a
processor, causes the processor to perform a method for eliminating wait
for boot-up of an apparatus, the method comprising:predicting a boot-up
schedule according to a determined usage schedule; andscheduling boot-up
time according to the predicted boot-up schedule, wherein said boot-up
schedule eliminates wait for boot-up while simultaneously preventing
increased power usage.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further
comprises logging usage of the apparatus.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the determined
schedule accounts for at least one of date, day and time.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further
comprises booting-up the apparatus.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method
and apparatus for eliminating wait for boot-up while simultaneously
preventing increased power usage.

[0003]2. Background of the Invention

[0004]It is a common goal in most electronics to attempt to reduce power
usage. It is also a common goal for the electronics that require boot-up
to attempt to reduce the time needed to reach boot-up a device. In
device, such as, computers, laptops, phones and calculators, maintaining
information in memory utilizes too much power. Thus, memory is cleared
and reloaded at boot-up. However, this solution results in a longer
boot-up time. In order to shorten boot-up time, more information is
maintained in memory. However, this solution consumes too much
energy/power.

[0005]Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for
reducing boot-up time while simultaneously preventing increased power
usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and
apparatus for eliminating wait for boot-up of an apparatus while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage. The method includes
predicting a boot-up schedule according to a determined usage schedule,
and scheduling boot-up time according to the predicted boot-up schedule,
wherein said boot-up schedule eliminates wait for boot-up while
simultaneously preventing increased power usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]So that the manner in which the above recited features of the
present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular
description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by
reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended
drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings
illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore
not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit
to other equally effective embodiments. In this application, a computer
readable processor is any medium accessible by a computer for saving,
writing, archiving, executing and/or accessing data. Furthermore, the
method described herein may be coupled to a processing unit, wherein said
processing unit is capable of performing the method.

[0008]FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an apparatus for eliminating wait for
boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased power usage;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting an embodiment of a method for
eliminating wait for boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased
power usage; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is an embodiment depicting a calculator for eliminating wait
for boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased power usage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an apparatus 100 for eliminating wait for
boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased power usage. The
apparatus 100 includes a processor 102, support circuitry 104, and memory
106.

[0012]The processor 102 may comprise one or more conventionally available
microprocessors. The microprocessor may be an application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC). The support circuits 104 are well known
circuits used to promote functionality of the processor 102. Such
circuits include, but are not limited to, a cache, power supplies, clock
circuits, input/output (I/O) circuits and the like. The memory 106 may
comprise random access memory, read only memory, removable disk memory,
flash memory, and various combinations of these types of memory. The
memory 106 is sometimes referred to main memory and may, in part, be used
as cache memory or buffer memory. The memory 106 may store an operating
system (OS), database software, and various forms of application
software, such as, applications 108, usage module 110, boot-up module 112
and the like.

[0013]The applications 108 are any applications that are stored or
utilized by the apparatus 100. The usage module 110 tracks and analyzes
user's usage habits. For example, the usage module 110 will determine if
the student regularly utilizes the apparatus 100 on Mondays through
Fridays at ten (10) in the morning. The usage module 110 makes such usage
data readily available for the boot-up module 112.

[0014]The boot-up module 112 utilizes the usage data from the usage module
110 to boot-up the apparatus prior to the predicted usage. For example,
the usage module 110 determines that the apparatus 100 is usually
utilized Monday through Friday at ten (10) in the morning. The boot-up
module 112 initiates a boot-up of the apparatus 100 prior to the
predicted usage, for example, at nine fifty-five (9:55) in the morning.
As a result, the apparatus 100 is capable of reducing power usage while
eliminating wait for boot-up of the apparatus 100.

[0015]It should be noted, the usage module 110 and boot-up module 112 may
be combined into the same module. Further more, the prediction of the
boot-up time may be done by either the usage module 110 or the boot-up
module 112.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting an embodiment of a method 200 for
eliminating wait for boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased
power usage. The method 200 starts at step 202 and proceeds to step 204.
At step 204, the method 200 logs the user's usage behavior. At step 206,
the method 200 determines the user habits and predicts boot-up time
and/or date. At step 208, the method 200 schedules a boot-up according to
the predicted time and/or date. At step 210, the method 200 determines if
it is time for boot-up. If it is time boot-up, the method 200 proceeds to
step 212. At step 212, the method 200 boots-up the apparatus prior to the
predicted usage time and the method 200 proceeds to step 214. If it is
not boot-up time, the method 200 proceeds from step 210 to step 214. At
step 214, the method 200 determines if there is more data to log or
boot-ups. If either is true, the method 200 proceeds to step 204.
Otherwise, the method 200 proceeds to step 216. The method 200 ends at
step 216.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an embodiment depicting a calculator 300 for eliminating
wait for boot-up while simultaneously preventing increased power usage.
The calculator is a device that is utilized in a classroom, businesses,
households, or the like for solving/computing mathematical or geometrical
expressions and problems. A calculator and its unique usage are known and
easily distinguished from various other electronic devices. The
calculator 300 includes a display screen 302 and a key board 304. The
display screen 302 presents inputs from the keyboard 304 and solutions
calculated. The calculator 300 utilizes the method 200 described in FIG.
2. By utilizing the method 200, the calculator 300 is capable of
predicting the usage time and/or date and boot-up prior to such predicted
usage. For example, a student has algebra class every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday at one (1) in the afternoon. The calculator will predicted
such usage and initialize a boot-up whereas the calculator is boot-up and
ready for usage at one (1) in the afternoon. Thus, the calculator may
boot-up at twelve fifty eight (12:58) in the afternoon for preparation
for the predicted usage.

[0018]While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present
invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised
without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is
determined by the claims that follow.